Box for packing hats.



. No'. 637,035. Patented Nov. [4, I899.

y..|. A. RY'E BOX FOB PACKING HATS.

(Application filed July 19, 1899.

(No Modal.)

W "in W/ TNE SSE S:

U ITED STATES PATENT OFFIC JOHN A. RYER, OF YONKERS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORTO THE WARING HAT MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

BOX FOR PACKING HATS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent'NO. 637,035, dated November14, 1899. Application filed July 19, 1899. Serial n5. 724,348. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may con/057%.-

Be it known that I, JOHN A. RYER, a citizen of the UnitedStates,residing in Yonkers,

in the county of Westchester and State of New York, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Boxes for Packing Hats, of whichthe following is a specification.

In packing elaborately-trimmed or plumed ladies felt hats it was thepractice heretofore to pack but two in one pasteboard box, one hat beingapplied to the bottom and the other to the cover of the box, said hatsbeing retained in position by means of a pasteboard ring extendingaround the crown of the hat and by strips of tape that are passedthrough holes of the bottom and cover of the box over the brims for thepurpose of firmly securing each hat in its respective position, theobject being to prevent injury to the feathers and other trimmings ofthe hats by their coming in contact one with the other while shippingthe same from the factory to the jobbers and retailers. It was foundthat this mode of packing hats was expensive, owing to the large numberof pasteboard boxes and Wood cases required, to the corresponding numberof pasteboard rings and the considerable quantity of retaining-taperequired, and also to the considerable labor and time required insecuring and tying each hat separately to the bottom and to the cover ofeach box.

The object of my invention is to provide a new mode of packing ladiesfelt hats in which a larger number of hats can be packed in one box, andconsequently a larger number of hats packed in the same size wooden casein which they are shipped, and in which the expense for tape, &c., isalmost entirely dispensed with, so that the packer is enabled to packmore rapidly, each hat requiring less handling than in the old method. 7

The invention consists of a box for packing hats, consisting of apasteboard box, a bottom retaining frame formed of pasteboard sideshaving recesses for the body of the hat, and a second pasteboardretainingframe applied to the 'upper portions of the crowns of the hats,four of which are stored readily in the body of the box.

The invention consists, further, of certain details of construction andcombinations of 'tion.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts. Referring tothe drawings, A represents a pasteboard box which is made of cylindricalor other suitable shape and of such size that preferably four ladiesfelt hats can be conveniently supported in the body of the box along thesides of the same in such a manner that the brims of the hats restagainst the inner side of the box, while the crowns extend inwardly inthe box. The box has to be of such size as that the feathers and othertrimmings employed have sufi'icient space in the interior of the box toprevent their injury. On the bottom of the box is supported aretaining-frame B, which is preferably made of a strip of ordinarypasteboard of suffi- 8o cient length to permitfolding into a square.This is readily accomplished by creasing or scoring the outer side ofthe blank strip of pasteboard. The central portion of each edge of theframe B is provided with a segmental recess 1) and preferably with areinforcingstrip of suitable material that is secured on the same toform an inwardly-extending flange b, as shown eleariyin Fig. 3. Therecessed sides of the retaining-frame B are 0 curved inwardly and thehat-crowns supported on-the recessed portions of the same.

The second retaining-frame O, of pasteboard, is constructed in the samemanner as the bottom retaining-frame B and is placed in invertedposition on the crowns of the hats, so as to rest at its recessedportions 0 on the crowns of the hats, and thereby retain the hats inposition and prevent shifting of the same in the box. A cover D ofOrdinary size is placed on the box. Each retaining-frame has within it abrace-frame E, preferably of circular shape, so as to strengthen theretaining-frames and to assist the retaining-frames in holding the hatsin position.

In place of the upper retaining-frame ordinary retaining-tape may beused, which is passed through holes in the side wall of the box and overthe creases of the hat-crowns, said tape serving for the same purpose asthe retaining-frame O. In place of square supporting and retainingframes B 0 these frames may be made of triangular shape, so that onlythree hats can be stored in one box, which form of frames is speciallyadapted for largebrim hats, which take up a larger space than theordinary style brim.

In some cases instead of four hats six hats of smaller size may bestored in the boxnamely, in addition to the four arranged at the sides,one hat attached to the bottom of the box at the inside of the bottomframe B and a second hat attached to the top of the the box-i. 6.,coverby means of retainingtapes in the manner heretofore employed. Thismode of packing may be used for girls hats, while usually it isdesirable to pack only four hats of larger size in one box.

By the use of my improved hat-packing box a larger number of hats can bestored in a smaller number of boxes, so that thereby not only a savingin the expense of boxes, but also in the tapes and in the packing-casesin which the boxes are shipped is eifected. As freight is usuallycharged according to bulk, a considerable saving in freight is alsoobtained by the use of my improved hat-box.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. A box for packing ladies felt hat-s, consisting ofa box-body, a cover for the same, a bottom retaining-frame, said framehaving recesses in the edges of its sides in which the crowns of thehats are adapted to rest, and means for engaging the opposite parts ofthe crowns of the hats whereby the hats are supported within the box,substantially as set forth.

2. A box for packing ladies felt hats, consisting of a box-body, apolygonal frame having inwardly-bent and recessed sides and supported atthe bottom of the box, and on which the crowns of the hats are adaptedto rest, and a second retaining-frame for engaging the opposite parts ofthe crowns of the hats, substantially as set forth.

3. A box for packing ladies felt hats, consisting of a box-body, abottom retainingframe, the sides of said frame being provided withrecesses and inwardly-projecting flanges along said recesses, on whichflanges the "crowns of the hats are adapted to rest, and

means for engaging the opposite parts of the crowns of the hats, wherebythe hats are supported within the box, substantially as set forth.

4:. A box for packing ladies felt hats, consisting of a box-body andretaining-frames arranged at the top and bottom of the boxbody, saidframes being constructed and coacting to engage on opposite sides of theexteriors of the crowns of a group of hats arranged aronnd and againstthe side wall of the box, whereby said hats are supported, between andby said frames, plumage inward, substantially as set forth.

5. A box for packing ladies felt hats, consisting of a box-body, openretaining-frames arranged in said box forengaging the crowns of andgrouping and supporting the hats, plumage inward, in said box,andbrace-frames within the retaining-frames, whereby the collapsing of thelatter is prevented, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed myname in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN A. RYER.

Witnesses:

HENRY J. PEOK, JULIUS TAOKMAN.

